Fruit-drier



(No Model.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

J. M. RUSK.

` Pin-i1; D'rvielr. No.l 236,093. A Patent-ed Dec. 28, 1880'.

ATTORNEYV (No Mm1 a1.)-l '2 sham-snm 2..

J. M. EUSK.

Fruit Driel.-

Patented Dec. 28, 12880.l

VI E N Dn o T T.. A

N, PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

Unire JAMES M. RUSK, OF MALTA, OHIO.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,093, dated December 28, 1880.

Application filed June 9, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs M. Rusx, of Malta, in the county of Morgan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit Driers and Evaporators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionot` the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specitication, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for evaporating and drying fruits, vegetables, and other articles; and it has for its object to provide for readily securing the parts together, the same being constructed partly of cast metal or wood and partly of sheet metah and to provide for a downdraft" through the drying or evaporatin g chamber, whereby the articles contained therein may be constantly kept bathed in an everchanging moist atmosphere, and by which uniformity and regularity in evaporating or drying is secured, and the necessity of moving or shitting the trays wholly obviated. These objects I attain by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of my improved apparatus, Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section; Fig. 3, a detached View of the bottom of the evaporator; Fig. 4, a horizontal sectional view on the line m m of Fig. l; Fig. 5, a detached view of the furnaceplate,and Fig. 6 a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. l.

The letter A indicates the evaporatingframe, constructed or" the uprights B and horizontal 'connecting-pieces O, uniting said uprights at the bottoni. These uprights and oonnecting-pieces are formed with a view to convenience in casting, so that they may be constructed of cast metal, it desired. They may, however, be constructed of wood sheathed with iron, which will be preferable in large machines. The said uprights and connectingpieces are formed with longitudinal abutments D, for contining the sides of the evaporatingchamber in place, the said sides being constructed of sheet metal-such as galvanized iron, for instance. The evaporating-chamber, as well as the door E, is formed with double (No model.)

walls having tlues F and G, for the purpose more fully hereinafter described. The top of the chamber is also made hollow, the space therein communicating with the iiues F.

The letter H indicates an escape-pipe extending frorn said space into the open air. The inner side walls, I, of the evaporatingchamber are provided at the lower ends with longitudinal rectangular openings K, having valves L, secured to operating-rods M, extending outside of the chamber.

The letter N indicates a series of supports secured to the side walls, I, for supporting the foraminous trays O, consisting of sheets of galvanized iron wire netting secured to suitable frames.

The flues F communicate with a transverse iiue, P, of the furnace by means of rectangular openings It in the furnace-plate S. The said furnace-plate is constructed ot' cast-iron, and is provided with additional rectangular openings T, for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. The said furnace consists of a rectangular frame of cast-iron having a firebox, S', from which extends a nue, S2, communicating with the flue I. At each side of the lire-box are formed the lues U, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The inner back wall of the evaporator, as also the inner wall of the door, are provided with rectangular openings A', provided with valves B'. having valve-rods O', extending out ofthe evaporator, by which the valves may be controlled. The said openings A' serve to establish communication between the tlues G and the interior of the evaporating-chamber. The said nues G also communicate with the evaporating-chamber at the top, as indicated by the openings D'. The flues Gr communicate with lues E', formed by the angular partition F' and the furnaceplate, which tlues connect with the flues U by means 0f the rectangular openings T, above mentioned.r The bottom ot the furnace is extended down around the iue S2, and is provided with airopenings s, through which air is admitted to the iiues U.

The letter G' indicates the bottom proper of the evaporating-chamber, which is provided with an opening, H', and valve I', by which said opening may be closed at pleasure. The

said bottom is removable, and forms, with the angular partition F', a space, K', which communicates with "the openair by means ofopenings L at the sides ofthe apparatus.

The operation of myinvention is as follows The fruit is placed upon the trays and the door closed. Upon starting a re in the furnace the products of combustion pass through the Hue S2 into P, then into ilues F, up into the space at the top of the chamber, and out of the escape-pipe. The heat generated causes a draft through the openings s into the tlues U, then into the ilues G, and finally into the top ofthe evaporating-chamber5 then pass downward, to escape through the openings leading into the lower part ofthe tlues F, so as to be carried off by the escaping products of combustion.

It will be thns perceived that the tendency of the heated saturated air to ascend is overcome, and the air is carried downward through the fruit, rendering it unnecessary to shift the trays to secure uniform drying, and economizing heat, for the reason that none is lostby opening the door for shifting the trays.

By means of the opening in the bottom of the evaporator and the space beneath the saine, with the openings leading to the external atmosphere, cold air in regulated qualitities may be admitted to the evaporating-chamber by opening the damper to a greater or less extent in order to temper the heat.

In order to prevent any possibility ofthe products of combustion from passing through the apertures K into the drying-chamber, the tlues F may be provided with partitions F2, extending from the said openings to the top, as shown in Fig. 1 ot' the drawings.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, in a fruit drier or evaporator, the uprights and the horizontal connecting pieces provided with longitudinal abutments, and the side walls of the evaporator adapted to be secured between said abutments, the whole being detachable, as and for the purposes specitied.

2. In combination with the side lines of an evaporator for drying fruit and other articles, connected with the escape-flue of the furnace and au exit above, the front and rear tlues, communicating with air-tlues at the bottom of the furnace, and with the interior of the evaporatng-cliamber by means of suitable openings, whereby a current otheated air may be directed downward from any point through the fruit, and caused to escape at the bottom, by means of which the fruit may be bathed ina constantly ever-changing moist heated atmosphere, substantially as specilied.

In testimony that l claim the above l have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two witnesses.

J. P. NAYLoR, WVM. J. MILLER. 

